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The “huge connection” between Lyme disease and hearing loss

David Michael Conner has published two companion blogs on the Huffington Post related to how Lyme disease can lead to hearing loss.

The first is an interview with audiologist Tracy Murphy, who notes that many Lyme patients lose their hearing from the disease. Click here to read it.

In the second blog, David talks about his personal experience of Lyme-related hearing loss. Although he had been diagnosed with “irreversible” hearing loss, once he was treated with antibiotics for Lyme, he found relief from many of his ear-related symptoms. Click here to read it.

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2 Comments

I first contracted Lyme disease 23 years ago, had all the signs – bullseye rash, Bell’s palsy, swollen knees, flu-like symptoms, etc. etc. however I wasn’t treated. I didn’t know anything about Lyme disease back in 1994 other than to check my children and husband thoroughly, especially after a day in the park in south central NJ. I didn’t really check myself thoroughly or even ask my husband to. I’m sure if I asked him to, he would have. I was diagnosed 12 years later for Lyme and in 2016 I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease Complex due to the vast amount of infectious diseases that the three ticks transmitted to me. There are too many details to go into to so I won’t. Just suffice it to say that I’ve had difficulty with my hearing in my right ear for over 2 decades. I kept complaining about my ear, I kept being told there was nothing wrong with it. Not so, I now have poor hearing in my right ear. I feel bad for my husband because I constantly ask him to turn the television louder and he has to always repeat himself. I also don’t speak in a clear voice which I know is all related to my loss of hearing which I am positive was caused by my Lyme disease. I have great difficulty in loud, crowded places because then my body goes into sensory overload and I know all of you who have Lyme disease know exactly what I’m talking about. To anyone who doesn’t understand, sensory overload is a neurological problem, not a mental illness which is what countless MDs have tried to convince me I have. Let’s face it everyone! Nobody wants to be this sick. Nobody wants to have to be totally dependent on others and we are not all a bunch of the greatest actors in the world up for an Academy Award. We aren’t liars. Why would anyone want this kind of attention? People don’t understand unless they’ve walked in our shoes.

My nephew was bitten by a tick, developed a bulls eye and was diagnosed with Lyme in 2007. He had a slight hearing loss when diagnosed. He was treated in an ER with two cycles of antibiotics and was told he was cured. Also in 2007 he was diagnosed with profound hearing loss and prescribed hearing aides. He continued to be ill and went to many doctors. His primary care doctor said he no longer had Lyme. In 2011, he collapsed and was rushed to an ER. They said he wasn’t ill and wanted to send him home. After a BIG debate he was admitted to hospital. After tests he was diagnosed with cysts in his lungs and pneumonia. Doctors refused to diagnose Lyme. He spent nearly two weeks in hospital. While being very ill he had a part time job and attended college part time. We paid for everything, doctors, hospital stay, tuition, out of pocket. No student loans , grants, insurance or assistance. Once he felt better he decided he wanted to attend college full time and work part time. He wanted to get out of the rut and depression. He registered and then during intersession became too sick to attend school or work. We took him from doctor to doctor. All doctors REFUSED to treat him, offered to pay cash was told to go to a clinic. Told he should see a psychologist. We contacted the university numerous times asking to postpone his attendance. We were willing to pay an administrative fee for the postponement. Never heard from the university until we heard from a collections lawyer demanding over $10,000 for tuition! We went to hearing which was attended by the lawyer, a para, my nephew and me. No judge attended. We were told to provide two letters from two doctors to the court. The only doctor who said my nephew had TBIs was his Audiologist. No other doctor would say he had TBIs! The lawyer told us he had a relative who was “cured” of Lyme with one cycle of antibiotics! My nephew lost! He wrote a letter appealing this decision to the president of the university He is still waiting for the courtesy of a reply! BUT he is receiving collection letters from the lawyer! This university hosts a Lyme Support Group! They want the kudos! I actually attended this support group until I found out how this university really treats people with disabilities, either hearing loss or Tick Borne illnesses. My nephew cannot attend college any longer because of this mess. He now works full time as he cannot attend college. His future is a mess. Such hypocrisy! We cannot just stand by and allow this to happen to us. We have to unite and demand what we have a right to, insurance coverage and treatment!!! Hang in there Donnamarie!